Given the economic uncertainty of COVID and the fluid situation around Brexit, one would assume businesses have hunkered down.
Some have and some haven’t – it’s hard to get a clear picture. Perhaps one possible barometer of the economy is that even now, the Corporate & Commercial team at Wilson Browne Solicitors are working with a number of clients on various transactions to support their commercial needs. M&A, exits and disposals are still going ahead and the variety of ‘deals’ being done is truly intriguing. Businesses and business owners have not just disappeared below decks having battened down the hatches.
The wheels are still turning
First up, a Midlands-base company operating in the transport and travel sector enlisted the help of the Corporate & Commercial team to assist in the disposal of the shares. Additional advice involved the extraction of commercial properties into associated pension structures, leaseback arrangements, and the regularisation of a number of significant local government contracts. Working closely with accountants, pension trustees and tax advisors (to the clients concerned) the team delivered smoothly, on time and in the most tax-efficient manner.
Duncan Crowther, Partner, said:
“It was particularly satisfying to see the seamless interaction between the various different teams within the firm, which is a real testament to the strength and depth of the commercial legal services offering of Wilson Browne.”
Music to your ears
The Legal 500 nationally recognised team advised on a de-merger of companies from an internationally owned group in the UK music sector. The advice involved the extraction of several trading companies and associated intellectual property assets and brands from a large multinational joint venture structure together with the completion of related documentation.
Andrew Kerr, Partner, said:
“We are delighted to have advised in this transaction and to have achieved the required de-merger efficiently and within an extremely short timescale. The cross-border nature of some aspects of the transaction presented their own unique challenges, but the knowledge and depth of experience within the team helped enormously in achieving the right outcome for the clients concerned in a timely manner.”
High-octane thrills
The high-octane business of motorsport is a team effort, the Corporate & Commercial team were delighted to be part of a group advising the shareholders of a business with links to the high-tech and glamorous world of Formula 1. The work involved providing advice to the selling shareholders in the disposal of a company manufacturing and supplying high-performance components and sub-assemblies to the motorsport industry, for an undisclosed sum.
The transaction was led by Jessica Hooley, Associate Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial team at Wilson Browne, who said:
“We were very pleased to advise in this transaction and to achieve the efficient disposal of a niche manufacturing company operating in a very high profile industry.
“The whole team really pulled together to get the right outcome for the client on this project in challenging and time-critical circumstances, which is a great testament to the ethos and depth of experience within the team.”
For an initial no-obligation discussion concerning any legal issues or concerns facing your business or company, contact either Duncan Crowther or Andrew Kerr on 0800 088 6004
